Electric lighter



Oct. 27, 1953 H. L- RINK ET AL ,3 0

ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors HAROLD LEOPOLD RINK 6 REGINALD FARRAN SPENCE Agents Oct. 27, 1953 H. L. RINK 'ET AL ELECTRIC LIGHTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1951 F /Ga Oct. 27, 1953 H. L. RINK ET AL 2,657,340

ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors HAROLD LEOPOLD RINK REGINALD FARRAN SPENCE Agents Oct. 27, 1953 H. L. RINK ET AL 2,657,340

ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I/ F/GS. 38

36 37 3e 32 I 3/ 45 ""T Q 33/ A 29 5O 49 V fix I 30 I I' I I; 1 24 I .240 I 121 l 47 I I 43w 8 x M H L I i l 9 I I 9 1 9 KLAKL; I 2 P Q I I 1 I 5 Inventors HAROLD LEOPOLD RINK REGINALD FARRAN SPENCE Agents Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE ELE CTRIC LIGHTER Application March 10, 1951, Serial No. 214,911 In Great Britain March 10, 1950 13 Claims.

This invention concerns a new or improved electric lighter (for lighting, for example, cigars, pipes, cigarettes, fires, gas burners and the like) of the kind comprising a housing, and a torch normally located in said housing but adapted for withdrawal from the housing and automatic ignition on such withdrawal, said housing containing an induction coil, a battery or batteries, and spaced electric ignition contacts in circuit with said coil and battery or batteries, such contacts being arranged so as momentarily to be bridged by an electrically conducting part of said torch (as this is withdrawn from the said housing) and thereby momentarily to close the said battery circuit before again releasing the contacts and thereby breaking the said circuit to create a spark or sparks for effecting the ignition of a volatile liquid fuel, e. g. petrol, with which is impregnated or wetted a wick carried by and exposed at one end of the said torch.

The object of this invention is to provide a generally improved electric lighter of the kind referred to.

According to this invention there is provided an electric lighter of the kind referred to, wherein the said housing comprises a base, a batteryand coil-carrying spider including a tubular body extending upwardly from said base and constituting a fuel reservoir at its lower portion and serving, at its upper portion, to receive the said torch when not in use; said body having externally a plurality of outwardly radiating ribs defining vertically disposed pockets arranged around the body for the reception of an induction coil and renewable batteries with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the axis of the said body; an outwardly directed flange at the upper end of said body bridging the upper ends of said pockets; electric contact means on said base and body-flange respectively for serially electrically interconnecting the coil and batteries placed in said pockets; a tubular socket above and coaxial with the upper portion of said body and containing the said spaced electric ignition contacts and also carrying means for connecting such contacts in series with said serially interconnected coil and batteries; and an outer closure shell for enclosing said coil and batteries, such shell being removable to give access to the open outer sides of said pockets to permit the batteries to be inspected or changed.

According to a further feature of the invention the upper portion of said body constitutes a cylinder in which is slidable the end of the torch at which the said wick is exposed, said torch being provided at this end with a collar constituting a piston freely slidable in said cylinder and serving, when the torch is withdrawn from the cylinder, to cause a flow of air into the latter for effecting the mixing of such air with the fuel vapour in the region of the wick of the torch and thereby to produce a more readily inflammable gaseous mixture in the cylinder and for drawing such mixture into the vicinity of the said ignition contacts.

According to a still further feature of the invention the bore of the lower part of the said tubular socket is of substantially the same diameter as the said cylinder and the socket is furnished with longitudinally extending radial ventilation grooves opening into the said socket bore and extending to the upper end of the socket and above and below the positions of the said ignition contacts, said ventilation grooves thus providing for an adequate supply of air to the vicinity of the said ignition contacts.

According to a still further feature of the invention the upper surface of the said socket is of funnel-like form to facilitate the pouring of the volatile fuel into the said fuel reservoir from the upper end of the said housing.

According to a still further feature of the invention the said shell is of inverted cup or bell shape and is adapted to screw on to the said base.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an electric lighter of the kind referred to, wherein said housing comprises a batteryand coil-carrier having a tubular body and wherein electric contact means are provided for serially electrically interconnecting the induction coil and batteries of the latter and which the said carrier is adapted to bear; a tubular socket above and coaxial with the upper portion of the bore of the said carrier body and containing the said spaced electric ignition contacts and having ventilation grooves in the wall of its bore extending from the upper end of said socket to a position below the said ignition contacts, and the lower portion of said bore of the tubular batter and coil carrier serving as a fuel reservoir whilst the upper part of such bore constitutes a cylinder in which is freely slidable the operative end of the said torch which is provided, at or near this end, with a flange or collar constituting a piston freely slidable in said cylinder so that, when the torch is withdrawn from the cylinder, it serves to draw air into the cylinder for mixing such air with fuel vapour in the cylinder, thereby to produce a more readily inflammable gaseous mixture in the cylinder in the Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to. Fig-- ure 2 but with the component parts orthe. lighter.

shown separated to illustrate their construction and the method of assembling them, a portion of the torch being shown in the figure;

Figure 4.- is an underneath plan of the socket part of the lighter and shows the ignition. con tacts;

Figure 5 is a vertical medial section of the lighter shown in Figure 1', the torch being removed;

Figure 6 is a section on line VIVI, Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 5, but drawn to a larger scale and showing only the upper part of the lighter; and

Figure 8' is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit of the lighter".

Referring to the drawings it will'be seen that the lighter illustrated comprises a hollow housing, generally indicated by'the reference I, in .i

which the operative parts'ofthe lighter are located and which housing includes an outer bellshaped shell 2 screwed at its lower end on to a circular base 3 which'is externally screw-threads ed at its upper part 4 and furnished with a knurling around" its lower part 5*to enable a grip to be obtained on the base to assist relative rotation of the shell and baseto connectthem or disconnect them.

The lighter illustrated-in the drawings isin'- tended to be rested on a table, desk or thelike and to prevent damage to the table or the like and also to prevent the slipping of the lighter thereon, the base of the' lighter is conveniently provided with one or more rubber or like feet 6 mounted in recessesin lugs I' on the base. A batteryand coil-carrying spider 8' is mounted centrally on the base 3 and includes a tubular body ii extending coaxially upwardly from the base 3, the body 9 being provided with an annular rib Ill seating in a corresponding annular recess II (Figure 3) providedarounda central hole I2 formed in the said base. The tubular body 9 is secured on the base 3 by means of. a

screw-threaded hollow plug I3 passing through the central hole I2 in the base-and screwing into.

the interior of thelower end of thebody 9, the

plug I3 havinga flange I4 seating in an annular recess I5 in the underside-of the base. 3; Not only does the plug I3 securethe-spidertto thebase 3 but it also seals the lower end of thetu bular body 9.

The upper part of the tubular body 9 is of smaller internal diameter than the lower part thereof which constitutes a fuel reservoir I6. The upper part of the bore of the tubular body 9 constitutes a vertically disposed cylinder I1 which is adapted to receive the torch l8 of the lighter and to which further reference will sub-- sequently be made. The cylinder I1 is -conv n-- iently defined by a dependent tubular part I 9 coaxial with the tubular body 9 and conveniently formed integrally therewith as is clearly shown in Figure 5, for example.

An absorbent material, such as cotton wool, for example, is placed in the fuel reservoir I6 to bear the volatile inflammable liquid, e. g. petrol. and. anabsorbent pad 20 which may be formed, for example, of asbestos, is located over the said absorbent filling for the reservoir and across the lower end of the cylinder I1 so that when the; torch I8 is placed into the cylinder IT, as it normally will be when not in use, the lower end of the torch will rest on the pad 20 1 and the volatile liquid, with which the pad 20 is. impregnated,v will. pass by capillary action to the; exposed end of the wick 2I of the torch I8.

The torch I8 comprises a metal tube furnished at its upper end with a knob or equivalent handle 22 and is provided at its lower end with a col lar 2.3:. which: is: conveniently formedi'by an: outwardly flared substantially frusto-conical part. of the tube: I8, the: maximum external. diam:

eter of the collar. 23' being only slightly less than the: internal diameter ofithe. cylinder I'll so. that;

during: the.-.withdrawal; of the: torch I8; from the;

lighter housing; the collar. 23. will act in the. cylinder I1, as a pistonand tend to create aidepression in. the lower. part of the cylinder I I which: will. have" the" effect of drawing airrdown; the. cylinder I'I from the exterior of" the lighter past the collar. 23into'contact withthe: inflammahle vapour below the: collar whereafter continned withdrawal of the. torch will. have the eifect of causing the piston-like collar 23 to drawthe combustible. mixture upwardly to. the: ignition contacts of. the. lighter, which will subsequently be described.

At its: upper end' thetubularbody 9: is provided with a concentric. outwardly directed flange- 2'4 havinga circular outline; and having its undersurface'parallelto' the upper surface of: the: base:- 3, this flange conveniently being formed inte grally witlrth'e; body 9. Moreover; between the beset: and .theflangez. 2T4; thebody' 9" is: provided." externally" with a plurality of outwardly radiating ribs 25 arranged equian'gularly aroundthe. body and" defining between themzvertically disposed pockets 26= for the. reception of. an. in-

duction: coil 2'! and. a plurality" of renewable cylindrical batteries 28, the induction coil and the. said batteriesibeing arranged with their axes substantially parallel to the axis'of the body 9. Conveniently the pockets 26 'are of part-cylindrical formso thatthe spider'8 resembles a longitudinal fluted: column.

A tubular socket, generally indicated by the reference 29; is arranged coaxially over the spider 8 andmay conveniently besecured to the latter, although it could, if' desired, be carried by the top- 0f the: shell 2. In-the arrangement shown, the socket is fixed to the flange 24 of the spider'8 by; screws 3 ll.

The tubular socket 29 hasan upper part 3I of approximately funnel form leading. into a verti cal central bore 32 having a diameter substantially the same'as, that of the cylinder I! with which it" is coaxial. Itwillbe. appreciated that the funnel-like" form of." the upper part 3I of the socket 2 9 facilitates filling of thev reservoir I6- with fuel which can be poured into. the: reservoir via; the socket andxcylinder- I I; thus thereservoir may readily befilled without the necessity" for: removing the-plug I3. The tubular socket is: alsorprovided. with an annular flange 33 upon which is placed a rubber or like sealing ring 34 adapted to be engaged by the upper end or top 35 of the shell 2, the latter being furnished with a central hole 36 to accommodate the upstanding rim 3? of tubular socket 29.

In the tubular socket 29 and around its bore 32 are provided a series of equiangularly-spaced, longitudinally xtending, radial ventilation grooves 38 opening into the bore 32 and extending from the surface of the funnel-like part 3! of the socket downwardly to the bottom of the bore 32 where the grooves 33 merge wholly into this bore. Conveniently four such ventilation grooves are provided so that the vertical passage through the socket 29 formed by the bore 32 and ventilation grooves 38 is of cruciform shape at its upper end but, since the bases of the grooves 38 converge inwardly and downwardly, is of substantially circular form at its lower end.

As will be seen clearly from Figures 2, 3 and 4, for example, the tubular socket 29 has on its underside a bar-like portion 33 extending diametrically thereacross, this portion being hollow to accommodate electric ignition contacts til and 4| and further contacts 42 and A3 with which the ignition contacts co-operate. The hollow bar 39 also serves to receive a pair of diametrically opposed upstanding lugs M provided on the upper side of the flange 24 of the body 3 and serving to locate the socket with respect to the latter particularly during assembly of the lighter.

The ignition contacts so and M are conveniently each formed from a length of resilient metal wire bent to a serpentine or zig-zag form. each contact being arranged in a horizontal plane and anchored at its outer end upon the lower end of a vertical screw-threaded post or 43 fixed to the socket 23 at its upper end. inner ends of the ignition contacts project into the bore 32 of the socket 29, each entering this bore radially at diametrically opposed positions via one of the ventilation grooves 38 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 4'! for this purpose, the said inner ends of the ignition contacts being located between the upper and lower ends of the bore of the socket as is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 7 for example. The inner ends of the ignition contacts 43 and 4! are also bent downwardly slightly and the minimum space between these contacts is less than the overall diameter of the collar 23 of the torch iii.

The said further contacts 42 and 53 are formed of resilient strip metal and are secured between their ends to the socket 23 by, but insulated from, the posts 45 and 45; the contacts 42 and 43 are also insulated from the ignition contacts 4!! and M. The inner ends of the contacts 42 and 43 are turned downwardly, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 7, and these downturned portions are adapted to be engaged by the ignition contacts 4%! and M respectively when the latter are deflected upwardly as a result of the withdrawal of the torch l8 from the cylinder H, such upward deflection of the ignition contacts being effected by the collar 23 of the torch i8 engaging the inner downturned ends of the ignition contacts 4E and ll and, as the torch is further with drawn, causing the ignition contacts to be raised and engaged with the contacts 42 and 43 prior to the inner ends of the ignition contacts being released from the collar 23 and permitted to return to their original positions.

The outer end portions of the said further contacts 42 and 43 are extended outwardly from r base 3 and a rib 25 of the spider ii the points of anchorage oi? these contacts to the socket and pass upwardly through slots 48 in the ends of the bar-like portion 39 of the socket so as to provide terminals 49 and 50 to which can be connected leads from the coil 21 and batteries 28 which are connected serially as shown in Figure 8.

The coil 2'! is more permanently located in its pocket 26 of the spider 8 than are the batteries 28 since clearly it will not be necessary to remove the coil from the spider. It will be seen that the coil 21 is furnished with a soft iron. core 5| (made of a series of lengths of iron wire) which projects above and below the ends of the coil, and the flange 24 of the spider is eccentrically furnished with a hole 52 to receive the upper projecting portion of the core 5| whilst the base 3 of the housing is furnished with an eccentrically lo cated recess 53 in which seats the lower end of the coil 21 and a further and concentric recess 54 for the lower end of the core 5i of the coil. Thus when the spider 8, the coil 27, and base 3 are assembled together and secured by the plug it, the coil 21 cannot thereafter be removed without dismantling the spider from the base.

On the other hand the batteries. 23 can be mounted in and removed from the spider 3 simply by sliding them radially into or out of the spider transversely of their longitudinal axes, as is indicated in Figure 3.

The batteries. 28 are conveniently of the wellknown single cell dry Leclanch type of about 1 volts, having a small central stud 55 at their upper ends forming one terminal or pole 55 and their exposed metal bases 56 forming their other terminal or pole.

As will be seen from the circuit diagram of Figure 8, the batteries are arranged two on either side of the induction coil 2'! and the adja cent batteries are arranged in inverted relationship and contact means are provided on the base 3 for connecting each pair of adjoining batteries in series whilst contact means are provided on the flange 24 for connecting the batteries on either side of the induction coil to the latter and for connecting the end two batteries of the series to the said terminals 49 and [iii respec' tively.

The said contact means on the base 3 of the lighter comprise elements 5! of approximately V or U-shape in plan formed of resilient metal and each having upwardly bowed end portions 58 and 59; the central portion 8!! of each. of these contact elements is clamped between the of the lighter, the base 3 being provided with a radial recess El and the corresponding rib 25 of the spider 8 being formed with a co-operating projection $2 for engaging the central portion 63 of the element 51 to clamp and look the latter in position on the base with each of the end portions 58 and 53 of the element projecting approximately radially into the respective pockets on either side of the spider ribs by which the elements are clamped to the base.

Each end portion 58 and 59 of the contact elements 5'! may be provided with a protuberance 63 for engagement with the corresponding terminal or pole of a battery; the extremities i l of each element 51 are also preferably slightly upturned so that as the end portions of the contact elements are depressed on placing a battery into the spider 8, these end extremities of the element can slide freely on the surface of the base 3.

Thecontact members carriedby thev flange 24 of the spider ii each comprise a bowed strip.

vertically through a slot 66- providedv through the flange 24 near the periphery of the latter, and then horizontally inwardly on the upper surface oi? the flange 24 so that the latter part of thetongue forms a terminal 6.! (see. Fig-- ure 3, for example) to which may be soldered. a flexible electric lead. There are four of the -contacts B and each of these may be provided with aprotuberance, like the protuberance 63 on the contact elements 51, for engaging-the corresponding battery terminals or poles.

The terminals 61 of the two contacts 65 en gaging the terminals or poles of the outer or:

end batteries of the series are connected by flexible leads 68 and 69 (Figure 3) to the terminals 56 and re respectively of the contacts 42. and, 43, whilst the terminals 61 of; the other two. contacts 65 are respectively connected to thetwo ends Ti] and H of the coil 21.

It will be seen that the fuel reservoir is: entirely located between the base 3 and the flange 2 5 of the spider 8 and. that the coil and battery pockets are arranged in a" ring around the reservoir. Thus a very compact arrangement is achieved. It will also be noted that very ready access to the batteries is available simply by unscrewing the shell 2' from the base 3 and lift ing the shell from the base, thereby exposing:

all the. batteries and enablingthem readily to be withdrawn radially outwardly from the spider either for inspection or replacement, renewing of the batteries being very simply effected, merely by engaging the lower end of the battery with one of the end portions of a contact element 51 and then sliding the battery radially into its, pocket 26. of the spider thereby completing the engagement of the battery with the element 51- and also effecting the engagement of the upper end of the battery with one of the contacts 65. Since the tubular socket 23 is readily detachable from the spider 8, the contacts 40, 4i and 42, 43 can easily be inspected and repaired or replaced if necessary.

In. using the lighter it will be understood that the torch is normally in the position shown in: Figure 1 when the exposed end of the torch Wick: is-in engagement with the absorbent pad andv thereby absorbs fuel from the pad; On withdrawing the torch from the lighter housing for use, the movement of the collar 23 of the torch up the cylinder I effects the drawing of air into the cylinder as hereinbefore described and continued upward movement of the torch efiects the upward deflection of the ignition contacts 49 and ll and their engagement with the further contacts 42 and 6-3 and consequently the-cl0sing of the electric circuit including the coil 21' and batteries 28. The completion of the withdrawal of the torch releases the ignition contacts an and ll and thus breaks-the electric circuitand creates the spark or sparks across these: contacts in the vicinity of the recedingexposed end of the torch wick, which is consequently ignited.

The ignition of the torch wick is greatly facilitated by the flow of air into the bore 32 of the, socket 29 and the contacts 40 and 4| via the ventilation, grooves 3a, since the volume. of air.

necessary to produce a satisfactory inflammable gaseous mixture ismany times greater than thevolume of fuel vapour normally present in the cylinder l1 and bore,32-.

Furthermore, when the lighter is being used repeatedly; a volume of carbon dioxide and other products of combustion will be present in these parts and this. incombustibl-e mixture is swept out by the" incoming air during withdrawal of the torch andthe production of a readily inflammable mixture in the vicinity of the ignition contacts: is ensured.

During. withdrawal of the torch from the lighter; the collar end of the torch is accurately guided, through: the socket bore 32 substantially centrally between the ignition contacts 48- and 4| this guiding being achieved by the portions of the socket bore 32. lying between the ventila tion grooves 35, the bore thus having virtually a multieline contact with the collar 255 of. the torch during this operation.

On re-inserting the torch into the lighter housing, the ignition contacts and ll are. downwardly' deflected but the electric circuit is not closed and no spark produced since the ignition contactsv 4:3 and ll are no longer in engagement with the contacts 42 andJi-3. Moreover should the torch be rer-inserted into the housing while still alight or smouldering, the flame or burning will quickly and automatically be doused when the wick end of the torch has passed the ignition:

zone in the socket 29. owing to the absence of a supply of air to the exposed end" of the wielz as a result of the goodslidingfit of the collar 23 or the, torch in the cylinder ll. This dousing er feet is also assisted by the provision or" a peri-pheralilange i2 around the upper part of the torch andwhich passes, as the torch is replaced in lighter housing, within the rim 31 of 2s and thereby decreases the flow oi. air into the: socket, and finally seats upon the surface of the funnel-like part 3 l' of the socket and substantially cuts ofi'theadmission of air to bore of the socket.

The shell 2-,,base3; spider ii, plug it" and tubular socket 253 are all conveniently formed as thermoset resirrmouldings but they may be made of anyother suitable electrically insulating- We claim:

1. An electric lighter comprising a housing including a. tubular body and atubu'lar socket at the upper end of said body, the lower part or" said body constituting a reservoir for volatile liquid fueland the upper part thereof constituting a, tube leading tosaid reservoir; atorch adaptedto be inserted coaxially through said tubular socket and into said tube; an absorbent wiclr carried by saidtorch and adapted to be charged with fuel from the said reservoir when the torch is in the tube; ignition contacts in the said tubular soclret and adapted to be connected to a source of. electric current and adapted, on withdrawal of the torch irom-thetube, to be actuated by the torch first to make and then to break the electricv circuit thereby to produce a: spark and thereby ignite the said wick, the said tubularv socket having its upper surface in the form of. a wide mouthed. funnel having the bore of which leads directly, without interruption, into said tube so that liquid fuel may be poured from said funnel throughsaid tubeinto said reservoir whereby the reservoir may be readily replenished with fuel without dismantling the lighter.

2.. An electric, lighter according to. claim 1 the socket wherein said ignition contacts are carried by the said tubular socket and the latter is provided internally with a plurality of longitudinally extending radial ventilation grooves opening into the bore of the socket and extending from the upper funnel-like surface of the socket to below the said ignition contacts, thereby to provide for an adequate supply of air to the said contacts when the said ignition contacts are being operated.

3. An electric lighter according to claim 2, wherein said ventilation grooves progressively decrease in their radial dimensions from their up per to their lower ends, the lower ends of such grooves merging into the lower part of the bore of said socket.

4. An electric lighter according to claim 3, wherein said source of electric current comprises one or more dry batteries and an induction coil located within said housing.

5. An electric lighter according to claim 4, including a further contact for and located adjacent each of the said ignition contacts and with which the adjacent ignition contact is adapted to be engaged momentarily when the torch is Withdrawn from the said tube, the said further contacts being connected in series with the said battery or batteries and the said induction coil, the said ignition contacts being electrically independent of the said battery and coil circuit.

6. An electric lighter according to claim 5, wherein each of the said ignition contacts coniprises a resilient metal wire of serpentine form secured, at one end, to the said tubular socket, the other end projecting radially into the bore of the said socket.

7. An electric lighter according to claim 6, wherein the said tube formed by the upper part of the said tubular body constitutes a cylinder and a collar, carried by the said torch at the end thereof at which the wick is exposed, constitutes a piston freely slidable in the said cylinder, said piston serving, when the torch is withdrawn from said cylinder, to cause a flow of air into the latter for effecting the mixing of such air with the fuel vapour in the region of the wick of torch, thereby to produce a more readily inflammable gaseous mixture in the cylinder and for drawing such mixture into the vicinity of said ignition contacts.

8. An electric lighter according to claim '7, wherein said collar is electrically-conducting and serves to bridge said ignition contacts and subsequently to release the latter for creating a spark upon withdrawal of the said torch from said housing.

9. An electric lighter according to claim 8, wherein the said housing also includes a cover shell adapted to be placed over and secured to the said body, the said cover shell being of approximately bell-shaped form and having a central aperture at its upper end adapted to receive the upper end of the said tubular socket whilst leaving the funnel shaped upper end of the latter exposed so that the reservoir may be replenished with fuel without removing the said cover shell.

10. An electric lighter according to claim 9, wherein the said housing includes a base, the said tubular body projecting upwardly from such base; a plurality of outwardly radiating ribs carried externally by said body and defining around the latter vertically disposed pockets for the reception of the said induction coil and battery or batteries; an outwardly directed flange provided on the upper part of said body closing the upper ends of said pockets and strip metal contacts on said body and base for serially interconnecting said coil and battery or batteries, the said strip metal contacts being adapted to receive between them one or more radially inserted dry batteries and said cover shell being removable in one piece from the said body to expose such battery or batteries for radial insertion or withdrawal.

11. An electric lighter comprising a housing including a base, a tubular body extending upwardly from said base, means for locating an induction coil and at least one battery around said body, a fuel reservoir constituted by the lower portion of said body, a tubular socket carried by the upper portion of said body and having its bore coaxial therewith and leading thereinto, spaced electric ignition contacts carried by said socket and projecting radially into the bore thereof, the bore of said socket being furnished with longitudinally extending radial ventilation grooves, and said socket being formed at its upper end with a downwardly convergent surface adapted to constitute a funnel for facilitating the pouring of a volatile liquid fuel through the bore of said socket and into said reservoir, means for serially electrically interconnecting an induction coil and at least one battery when placed around said body, means for connecting said ignition contacts in series with said coil and battery, and an outer cover shell for enclosing said coil and battery and removable to give access thereto; and a torch and a wick carried thereby and exposed at one end of said torch, said wick being adapted to be wetted with a volatile liquid fuel contained in said reservoir when the lighter is in use; said torch being normally located in said housing but being adapted for withdrawal therefrom through said socket; and an electrically-conducting part on said torch adapted, on Withdrawal or" the latter from said housing, first to bridge said ignition contacts to complete an electric circuit through said coil and battery, and subsequently to release said contacts on continued withdrawal of said torch thereby to open said circuit and to produce a spark for effecting ignition of the fuel with which said wick is wetted.

12. An electric lighter comprising a housing; a tubular body extending upwardly from the base of such housing; a reservoir for liquid fuel in the lower part of such housing; a tube formed by said tubular body and leading directly to said reservoir; a tubular socket at the upper end of said body; a pair of ignition contacts 1n said tubular socket and extending into the bore thereof; a plurality of longitudinally extending radial ventilation grooves provided in said socket and opening into the bore thereof, said grooves extending from the upper surface of said socket to below said ignition contacts and decreasing in their radial dimensions from their upper to their lower ends; an induction coil and at least one dry battery located Within said housing; a further contact for, and located ad acent, each ignition contact, said further contacts being connected in series with said battery or batteries and said induction coil; a torch adapted to be inserted coaxially through said tubular socket and into said tube; an absorbent wick carried by said torch and adapted to be charged With fuel from the said reservoir when the torch is in the tube; and an electrically conducting collar on said torch and 11 adapted, on Withdrawal 'of said torch, to "con- "tact said ignition contacts and move them to engage said further contacts, thereby to complete the electricbircuit through the said 'battery or batteries, the said induction coil, the said further contacts, the said ignition contacts and the said "collar, and said collar being adapted, on further withdrawal of said torch, to 'pass saidignition contacts thereby "to break the circuit and cause a spark to pass between the said ignition contacts and the said collar, thereby to ignite the said wick.

1-3. An electric lighter comprising a housing including a base; 'a tubular bodyextending'upwardly from-such base; a reservoir for volatile liquid fuel formed bythe lower part of the said tubular body; a tube formed 'bythe upper part of said tubularbody and leading directly to said reservoir; 'a tubular 'so'cket'at the upper end of said body and'provide'd with an upper surface in the form "of a wide-mouthedfunnel'th'e bore of which "leads directly, without interruption, into said tube so that liquid fuel may be poured,

via the said funnel, directly into the said reservoir; a pair of ignition contacts in the said tubular socket and extending into the bore thereof; a plurality of longitudinally extending radial ventilation grooves provided in the said socket and opening into the bore thereof, said grooves extending from "the upper funnel-like surface of the socket to below the said ignition contacts and decreasing in their radialdimensions from their upper to their lower ends; an induction coil and at least one dry battery located within said housing; a further contact for,

and located adjacent, each ignition contact, said further contacts being connected in "series with said battery or batteries and said induction-coil;

a torch adapted to be inserted coaxially through said tubular socket and into said tube; an absorbent wick carried by said torch and adapted to be charged with fuel from the said reservoir When the torch is in the tube; and an-electrically conducting collar on the said torchand adapted, on withdrawal of said torch, to contact said ignition contacts and move them to engage said further contacts, thereby to complete the electric circuit through the said battery or batteries, the said induction coil, the said further contacts, the said ignition contacts and the said collar, and said collar being adapted, on further Withdrawal of the said torch, to pass said ignition contacts thereby to break the circuit and cause a spark to pass between the said ignition contacts and the said collar, thereby to' ignite the said wick.

H. L. RINK.

R. FARRAN SPENCE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,056,236 Ude Mar. 18, 1913 1,466,779 Anakin Sept. 4, 1923 1,765,633 Stevenson June 24, 1930 2,151,479 Ludovici Mar. 21, 1939 2,159,769 Negabaur May.23, 1939 2,493,662 Fitzpatrick Jan. 3,1950 

